Drum ball



F. GOERTZ Feb. 14, 1939.

DRUM BALL Filed Aug. 2'7, 1936 FEEDER CK GOERTZ \NVENTOR BY AT RQEY Patented Feb. 14, 1939 PATENT OFFICE DRUM BALL Frederick Goertz,

South Orange, N. J.

Application August 27, 1936, Serial No. 98,149

1 Claim.

This invention relates to recreational apparatus and special objects of the invention are to provide a game, toy or exercise device which will afford both recreation and exercise, provide entertainment by a drumming effect and promote desirable muscular rhythm.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by the novel features of construction, combinations and release of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and broadly covered in the claim.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrates a. practical embodiment of the invention but it will be appreciated that certain changes within the scope of the claim may be made without departure from the true spirit of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the device in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with the elastic cord broken for lack of space;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, broken, sectional detail of the handle structure as on line 44 of Fig. 3.

The main part of the device consists of a disclike member 5, in the nature of a drum head, to the back of which is afiixed a handle 6. This handle is shown as a grip piece of wood or the like held in a U-shaped bracket 1 having a flat, face portion 8 secured across the central portion of the back of the disc by spaced bolts or other suitable fastenings 9. The grip bar 6 is shown as of elliptical cross section with the major axis disposed substantially axially of the disc, giving the hand an effective grasp for facing the disc in different directions. The handle is shown secured in the arms of the bracket 1 by screws and to hold the handle positively against turning, the arms of the bracket are indicated as flanged inwardly at H to overlap the sides of the handle.

l2 indicates a bouncing ball of rubber or other resilient material attached to the disc by two elastic cords l3-I4 connected with opposite edge portions of the disc as represented at l-I6. Actually these two elastic connections may be a single length of rubber cord passed through holes in the rim portion of the disc and through the center of the ball, with the ends knotted at the back of the disc, as in Figs. 2 and 3, to form a loop which will suspend the ball in position substantially opposite the center of the disc. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the points of attachment of the elastic cord, l5 and it, are on a diametrical line extending through the flat base portion 8 of the handle bracket so as to give the ball a natural tendency to bounce against the face of the disc immediately under the bracket base 8, which then operates as a reinforcement for such bouncing action.

By reciprocating the disc in time with the 5 natural bouncing period of the elastically attached ball, the ball may be connected in action for an indefinite time and with skilful use of the device the disc may be faced in different directions to keep the ball bouncing out at different angles. 10 By varying the timing, difierent drumming effects may be produced. The disc may be made of wood, cardboard, or other material, and may be selected particularly for the desired drum sound effect. The device provides exercise, as well as entertainment and promotes a desirable sense of rhythm.

While the circular shape is a desirable form, the disc or impact member may be made in various other forms. Also while it is desirable, for the wider spacing so obtained, to attach the elastic connections to opposite edge portions of the disclike member, the attachment may be made at less widely separated parts of the member and not necessarily on a diametrical line or in alinement with the handlebracket, though the latter features are advantageous. The elastic may be a single continuous loop or two separate strands and if found desirable, there may be more than just these two connections, as with three .or more elastic strands the ball could still be caused to bounce against-the face of the impact member in the area between the points of attachment of the elastic strands. The locating of the handle on the back of the impact member and within the bounds or outline of that member leaves the entire face of the member as a striking surface for the ball and this position of the handle also enables a quick thrusting motion of the forearm being employed, desirable in training for boxing and other sports.

I claim:

A recreational device comprising a disc member, a substantially U-shaped bracket having a base portion secured across the central part of the disc at the back of the same and substantially parallel arms projecting rearwardly from said base portion, said bracket arms having inturned flanges, a handle engaged between said bracket arms and held non-rotatably by said inturned flanges, a bouncing ball, and two lengths of elastic cord attaching the ball to the face of said disc in position substantially opposite said base portion of the handle.

FREDERICK GOERTZ. 66 

